Counter Strike - FAQ



A number of questions keep cropping up so this FAQ should provide an area where the most common questions are answered. If your question is not answered here then email me. I'll then provide a solution and add it here to help other players who maybe in the same boat :).

Official FAQ
www.counter-strike.net/faq.html 

Q - I have the boxed (retail) version of CS and there are maps missing?
A - Grab the map pack which you'll find linked on the far right menu over there --->

Q - The player skins don't look as detailed as they should be?
A - In CS 1.1 there is a command you might have to enter. At the console type:
gl_max_size "512" 
All skins will then display the high quality versions (some machines will start to run the default 256 versions so this command will need to be entered).

Q - What is the difference between he MOD and retail versions of CS?
A - Half-Life was originally released as a stand alone game. Now Counter Strike (CS) is a MOD (Modification) that uses Half-Life, but changes i.e. modifies the gameplay. Players with the original Half-Life game have to use the MOD patches.

Retail i.e new boxed versions of CS like "Half-Life: Generations", Half-Life: Counter Strike" need to use the retail patches.

Q - Why do I die so often, and other players do so well?
A - Counter-Strike is not an easy game to pick up and excel at straight away. CS has a learning curve, and although big to start with it can be overcome by playing the game a lot, and learning how to aim weapons, move without attaching attention of the enemy players, how to complete the mission objectives, and most important of all. How to play as a team player. 

Q - I'm getting error messages?
A - There are a number of errors that can occur. Most are fixed by restarting half-life.

1) ERROR: " could not load library C:\SIERRA\HALF-LIFE\/cstrike/cl_dlls/client.dll" 
This means you did not install the latest Half-life patch before you installed Counter-Strike. To fix download the latest version of Halflife. Check the files page here.

2) ERROR: " your map [/maps/mapname.bsp] differs from the server's" (where mapname is the name of the map) "
This will mean the maps you have are out of date OR you've downloaded some that have replaced the maps that should had come from the CS install. Either way you'll need to reinstall CS or get a friend to upload the maps you need, and then copy them into your CS maps folder.

3) ERROR: " server is enforcing fille consistancy for sprites/nameofsprite.spr (where sprite name is the name of the sprite) "

Either the file is corrupted or you installed a new crosshair which CS is not liking for a number of reason. Try deleting the file it's mentioning, and the problem should go away.

4) ERROR: "Could not get IPX socket name, IPX disabled Reason:WSAENOTSOCK"

Not everyone gets this, but I've been faced with it as have other players. It means either IPX is not installed or you've disabled it. I'm not sure how much you know about networking, but TCP/IP is a network protocol, and is used for all net communications. IPX is another network protocol and in this case you need it. 

To install it go to START>Settings>Control Panel> in there select "Networks" Then click the "Add..." button. Select "protocol" pick "microsoft" then choose the one with "IPX". You'll need your windows CD and windows will install IPX. Once done this error should not reoccur.

Q - Can guns shoot through walls?
A - Yes some can. All the rifles and the Desert Eagle pistol can as well.

Q - How do I save hostages?
A - Click here.

Q - How do I defuse the bomb?
A - Click here.

Q - How do I plant the bomb?
A - Click here.

Q - I'm having connection/Frame rate problems...
A - Try the tweaking section here. There are also links to a number of tweaking sites. Once you've gone through them all you should have a nice tweaked config that will solve most of your problems :).

Q - Why can't I see other peoples scores?
A - There is a command in your config to fix this. Go to your /cstrike/ directory and open config.cfg in notepad. In here fine cl_hidefrags "1". Now change the 1 to a 0 and you'll now see everyone's scores in the game.

Q - Why are there so many Betas?
A - Counter-Strike is constantly being worked on. It's a MOD (modification) for the game Half-Life and because it's a MOD it is being envolving. What makes this MOD unique is the vast number of players playing it. Feedback from the players is taken by the creators of CS and they aim to better CS in ever new beta release.